Beer-tap



E. G. POST.

(No Model.)

BEER TAP.

No. 569,801. Patented 001:. 20, 1896.

WJTWESSES PATENT Enron..

EDWARD O. POST, OF MONROE, MICHIGAN.

BEER-TAP.

SPECIFICATION fOrming part f Letters Patent N0. 569,801, dated October 20, 1896.

Application led September 7, 1895. Serial No. 561,826. (No model.)

To all whom it may concer/L.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD C. Posr, a oiti zen of the United States, residing at Monroe, in the county of Monroe and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Coupling Device, and more especially in beer, ale, and other liquid taps, by means of which the taps are securely fastened or coupled to tap-hole bushings in barrels or packages, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention embodies the construction of that class of taps that are more particularly employed for making tap connections with barrels or packages from which beer, ale, or other liquids are drawn under pressure and delivered at some distance from the barrel or package.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical central longitudinal section through my improved tap as connected or coupled to atap-hole bushing screwed into a counterbored hole in the side or head of the barrel. Fig. 2 is an end View of the lower part of the tap. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the same. Figs. 4, 5, and G are side views of the lower part of my improved tap, showing different shapes of the coupling devices that may be employed.

In another application for an analogous device led by me of even date herewith, Serial No. 561,825, I have shown still another specific construction of coupling device, wherein the dogs are fulcrumed to the body and different means are provided to actuate the dogs, as a nut, tor example, above the fulcrurns of the dogs.

E is the hollow body' of the tap, having at its upper end a stuffing-box A B C, by means of which a tapping-tube D is held in sliding position. At some convenient point the body E has a branch E', through which air or gas under pressure may be admitted to the barrel through the air-tube V and valve R, as is common with taps of this kind.

As it is sometimes desirable to break the air-hose connection with the tap, I do not make the hose-nipple U a part of' the valveplug S, but connect the hose-nipple U to the plug by a coupling-nut T.

The lower part ot' the body E is provided with a ixed downwardly-extendin g arm G', terminating in the lug or jaw Z. The jaw Z is intended for engaging under the flange K of the bushing O. On the opposite side the body E is provided with the flanges or projections I, to which are fulcrumed the dog G and cam F by means of pins H and J, respectively. The lower end of the dog G has the lug or jaw L, intended to engage under the iiange K of the bushing O. I prefer that the jaws L and Z shall be beveled on their engaging faces, in order to take up the slack between the body and the bushing. The engaging face of the ange K of the bushing is also preferably beveled, as shown.

The central lower edge of the body E forms the packing-seat W of the tap, which may be counterbored for holding the packing.

To release the tap fromV the bushing O the handle F of the cam F' is turned down, which releases the dog G, allowing it to swing' freely on the pin I-I, when the tap can be removed.

The tapping-tube D is employed for driving the cork or bung N into the package when the tap has been securely coupled to the bushing O.

The lower face of the bushing O being turned off at an angle, as also the upper faces of the jaws Z and L, allows of a reasonable amount of vertical self-adj ustment to the tap while it is being drawn up bythe cam F, insuring a tight joint with the packing X.

In Fig. 4 I show the lower part of my improved tap, wherein the cam F is dispensed with and in its place a thumb-screw is fitted into the dog G, by means of which its jaw L is forced under the flange K of the bushing O.

Fig. 5 illustrates the lower part of my improved tap with the cam F (actuating the dog G) made of wire or other suitable material.

Fig. G shows a similar construction to Fig. 4, the screw F" being iitted into the bracket I and arranged to force the jaw L of the dog G under the liange K of the bushing O.

Vxhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coupling device, the combination of a hollow body E provided on one side thereof with an arm terminating in a j aw Z, and with a dog G having a jaw L, and a cam bearing IOO sa aeeoi against said dog to aetuate the dog and set set its jaw, said body provided with brackets 1o its jaw, said body provided with a bracket oln on which said'dog and said cam are fnlcrumed, which said dog and said cam are fuior'uined, substantiaiiy as set forth.

substantially as set forth. In testimony whereof I afx my signature 5 2. In a coupling device, the combination of in presence of two witnesses.

a hollow body E provided on one side thereof EDWARD C. POST. with a xed arm G terminating in a jaw Z, Titnessesz a dog` G provided with a jaw L and a Cani beal- JOHN E. MOLONEY,

CHARLES SCHWARTZ.

ing against said dog to aotuate the dog and 

